Spawners... Off Limits

[fishinwrench]

Irresponsible? I dunno, maybe.

"Pointless"...for sure. There wasn't any useful information that anybody that fishes rivers in MO. didn't already know.

I consider the article simply a vehicle for plugs, intended to bring a little business for a couple of guides and campground/resorts.

I see no need for "letters to the editor", however I wouldn't be suprised if a few are being constructed at this very moment.

I have confessed to being a bed-fisher before, I don't actually go out "targeting bedding fish", but normally I won't pass up the chance when I notice one......It's exciting to watch the fish react to a bait and I know I've learn alot by doing it. Every good angler has done it, and everyone trying to be a better angler has the right to do it.

But I do feel that it is something we just shouldn't talk, or brag about in mixed company.

One thing is for sure, if sombody, the right sombody makes a big enough stink about it we'll eventually have a "closed season", and I darn sure don't want that.

[creek wader]

It may not be any of my business, but, I see where someone asked if Cory Cottrell, was a member. He, by no means, needs me to come to his defense, But, I will anyway. He was mentioned in the article but, not in the context that mentions sight fishing the beds. I believe, and I'm sure that most would agree, that Cory is above reproach. ... As far as the article goes, I think maybe Billie Cooper, ought join this site and read the posts, that we've had the last few weeks. Maybe, he would learn a bit on smallie conservation. I know I have.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Fishinwrench hit it right on the head. I sent my letter to the editor yesterday.

SIO3

[hornyheadchub]

Pulling bass or any other game fish from a bed during spawn season in a non-put and take fishery is simply chicken-dung fishing.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Like Ollie said, its apples and oranges comparing stream Smallies to lake fish. Lakes tend to be stable during the spawn, at least when compared to streams, and will always have a lot of areas unseen. Streams had the protection of off color and higher levels during the spawn as a rule, but that hasn't been true for many years now. You can often fish an area in which you can see every inch of the bottom, or so you think, but there will be Smallies hidden there, but when they build a nest its seen by all.

People believe that stream Smallies are protected by law during the spawning season, and they are, by law and little else.

[fishinwrench]

Pulling bass or any other game fish from a bed during spawn season in a non-put and take fishery is simply chicken-dung fishing.

Am I understanding You HHchub, to include fishing the White bass run, or fishing ANY shallow water area from March-late June ? Crappie along the banks in spring, ect. ect?

C'mon now !

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I knew it, I just KNEW IT, writing letters to the editor is just creating more interest in the article. It was a POS article....best move is to let it die quietly, IMO.

[hornyheadchub]

fishinwrench,

White bass run is not white bass on beds, in fact white bass don't nest and their larval fish become part of the zooplankton. Regarding Whites, typically staging fish are caught, as you likely know if you've tried to catch them while they are in the act of spawning, because they won't bite a darn thing unless it is a beautiful little David Freeman Epoxy Clouser and you happen to be David. Further, White bass are still stocked in some fisheries as are crappie and I don't fish for crappie on beds either; it's just not my style.

Think about it, if you disrupt the process of reproduction and leave all those embryos and fry unprotected, what exactly makes you think that there will be such a good fishery in years to come?

On the other hand, if fish populations aren't thinned in certain fisheries (e.g. Taneycomo, the Norfork, the White) jobs and revenue are at stake. As you might expect, issues such as these are rarely simple, and in order to make a good decision you have to have a good understanding of the fishery, your impact on it, the politics, and the local, state, and federal economy that hinges on it.

[Gavin]

I really couldnt care less if someone fishes for bedding largemouth or crappie, but I dont fish for bedding trout or smallmouth anymore. Been there done that and I just dont enjoy it that much.

Not much skill to it. The fish arent going anywhere, so its just a matter of spotting fish and making repeated presentations till the fish bites or you give up. It seems to appeal to folks who like to catch more than they like to fish. Kind of like trout park tournaments and other forms of fun for the feable-minded. Cheers.

[Wayne SW/MO]

White bass are still stocked in some fisheries as are crappie

Could you be more specific?

On the other hand, if fish populations aren't thinned in certain fisheries (e.g. Taneycomo, the Norfork, the White) jobs and revenue are at stake.

Elaborate?

I was on TR Saturday, and the number of fishermen in comparison to the bedding areas was in good ratio. Lake fish have also had their environment increased a thousand fold so the only thing that bed fishing does is decrease their numbers slightly.

The problem I see with bed fishing by pros is that its too easy, if they're the best they should prove in tough conditions, not on bedding fish on a shallow lake in Florida.

The stream Smallmouth is a different animal, different environment and battling different challenges, facing technologies that shrinks their environment in the best of conditions, and all but eliminate it in bad conditions.

They don't stock stream Smallies, or so I've heard, because it doesn't work.

[jdmidwest]

Unbelievable for a magazine to publish something like that. A few years ago, the MDC Conservationist magazine published an article by a local teacher in Jackson that really burned me. In the article he promoted keeping goggle eye's as they are a plentiful fish species and can't be overfished. Anyone that fishes knows the goggle eye can be over fished and is only found in streams that have a good water quality. As a matter of fact, local streams around here have very few compared to 20 years ago due to siltation or other reasons. I release everyone I hook. MDC even has size limits on them to increase the populations in 11pt from overfishing.

Smallmouth guard their nests till the fry are large enough to fee on their own. If a smallie leaves a bed of eggs, longears and bluegills dive in and feed on them. Later, when gills bed, smallies give them a good working over to repay the favor. After smallies hatch, the parent will still protect the young that stays schooled up for a while, then they go their separate ways. They have enough natural predators, they don't need us. Is that not why the season is closed on bass in streams till Memorial Day?